Africa

Geographies of Change

Richard Grant

Africa

Geographies of Change

Richard Grant

Description

Population growth, business interests, and global connections are transforming Africa from a "lost" continent to one of "strategic opportunity" in the worldwide geopolitical sphere. A timely synthesis of current thinking on this diverse, complex, and changing region, Africa: Geographies of Change offersstudents the most realistic portrait of modern Africa available.

Integrating material on China in Africa, the mobile-phone revolution, the Millennium Development Goals, sustainable development, "land and water grabs," food security, informal livelihoods, the "Green Revolution," and new satellite cities, this text adopts a realistically optimistic narrative that focuses on Africa's burgeoning cities. By using case studies to highlight important topics, Africa: Geographies of Change incorporates new perspectives from urban studies, public health, political geography, and sustainable development in order to provide a more nuanced understanding of African issues.

Features*Integrated cutting-edge topics--such as China in Africa, the mobile-phone revolution, sustainable development, informal livelihoods, and food security--keep the text relevant and thought-provoking*Emphasis on contemporary Africa motivates students to consider alternative and more positive possibilities for African development *Historical knowledge underpins the assessment of contemporary issues and helps students to envision future development and policy outcomes*Uniquely African perspectives enhance each chapter*Carefully selected sidebars and case studies vividly illustrate the topics being discussed

Africa

Geographies of Change

Richard Grant

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 IntroductionSetting the African StageThe Urban Revolution and Emerging Rural Revolution in AfricaThe Concept of "Africa"How to Write About Africa? sidebarThe "New Africa" Growth StoryUrbanization in Small Towns in East Africa sidebarAfrica as a Millennium Development FrontierUrbanization in Africa in ConsiderationConclusions

Chapter 4 The "Scramble for Africa" and the State of European GeographicKnowledge on the RegionIntroductionMary Kingsley (1862-1900) sidebarTimbuktu: Colonial Escapades and Unanswered QuestionsColonial MotivationsAfrica's Urban Past"Great Zimbabwe": An Urban History Almost Forgotten sidebarColonial LegaciesGeographies of EmpireThe Bungalow sidebarUrban Development and Planning the Colonial CityConclusions

Chapter 5 Rural AfricaIntroductionRural Development Themes and Policy Emphases: The Elusive Quest For Sustained DevelopmentThe Green RevolutionAfrica's Failed Green RevolutionAfrica's New Green RevolutionGenetically Modified (GM) CropsAfrican Millennium Villages sidebarRural Livelihoods: A Challenge to the Primacy of Small Farms?Pro-Poor Tourism Best Practices from Rural South Africa: Making African Game Parks Work for the Local Poor sidebarGender in Rural AfricaGirls in Rural Africa: Invisible Members of SocietyConclusion

Chapter 6 Africa's Mobile Phone Revolution: Informal Economy, Creativity and Informal SpacesIntroductionThe Last Forty Years of Informal Economy Evolution and Sophistication in AfricaMajor Informal Economy Debates The African Informal Economy on the GroundInternational Informal Economy Entanglements: E-Waste in Africa sidebarThe Diversity of Informal Workers, Soweto Township, South Africa sidebarDynamism, Creativity and InformalityMobile Phones: "The New Talking Drums" of Everyday AfricaUshahidi: Built in Africa for the World Designing Sustainable Prototypes for Africa's InformalsCommunity-Led Enumerations and Mapping: Counting Lives and Building Community in Kibera, Kenya sidebarSlum Tourism and Shack Chic: Are They Good Ideas? sidebarConclusions

Chapter 7 Migration IntroductionAfrican Athletes and Global Sports Recruitment sidebarColonial Policies and MigrationCircular MigrationBurkina Faso: Circular Migration in Time and Space sidebarForced Migrants: Refugees and IDPsThe Johannesburg Hub: How Many Foreigners Are Present? sidebarMigrant Remittances to AfricaThe Hawala System of Transfer in the Horn of Africa sidebarTransnational Houses sidebarHuman Trafficking and Smuggling"Migrant Journeys in Pursuit of the South African Dream" sidebarOut of Africa: US and European MovementsConclusions

Chapter 8 WaterIntroductionAfrica's WaterWater and Sanitation: Colonialism to the PresentIndigenous Knowledge of Water sidebarWater Grabbing sidebarWater and PovertyTransboundary Water IssuesVirtual WaterWater Footprint of Cut Flowers in Kenya: What Is the True Cost? sidebarConclusions

Chapter 10 Land and FoodIntroductionWhy Has Africa Become a Net Food Importing Region? Contemporary Agriculture in Africa: "The Great African Land Grab"?South Africans' Next "Great Trek" into Africa sidebarBenefits and Risks of Land InvestmentsGeographies of the FDI in African Agricultural Lands The Fairtrade Debate sidebarEthical Wildflower Trade and Sustainability: Flower Valley, South AfricaArguments For and Against Large-Scale FDI in African Agricultural Land Urban Agriculture Cape Town: The Paradox of Urban Food Insecurity in a Food-Secure Country sidebarConclusions

Africa

Geographies of Change

Richard Grant

Author Information

Richard Grant is Professor of Geography and Regional Studies at the University of Miami. He is also Adjunct Senior Research Scientist to the Earth Institute's Millennium Cities Initiative at Columbia University and a Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg.